Bore water worries for Hendon residents

Thousands of Hendon residents in Adelaide are being warned about groundwater contamination which was detected 20 years ago.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) says a review of old files has found two reports on a property at Philips Crescent at Hendon.

They were prepared by environmental consultants in 1992.

The EPA has held talks with the current property owner, Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson, and found a third report was prepared that year and showed there were significant chemical levels in groundwater off-site.

Peter Dolan of the EPA says the current land use is not the cause of the contamination.

"This site has previously been used for ammunition works, electrical component manufacturing, circuit board manufacturing and possibly electroplating, so potentially there are both on- and off-site sources for the contamination," he said.

The Authority has written to 2,900 residents of the area warning them not to use bore water until more testing has been done.

The affected zone also takes in parts of Seaton, Royal Park and Albert Park.